USA1 (Haydenettes) were the only repeat medalists from 2011 at the conclusion of the 2012 World Synchronized Skating Championships today, while SWE1 (Team Surprise) and CAN1 (Nexxice) reclaimed World podium spots after missing out on medals in 2010 and 2011. SWE1, CAN1, and USA1 finished first, second, and third respectively while the Finnish teams were shut out of the medals for only the second time in history. The last time that happened was in 2007, which is also the last time Team Surprise were World Champions. That year, USA (Miami University) and CAN (Nexxice) also rounded out the podium. Team Surprise’s gold in Gothenburg marks the second time they’ve won at home, and is their sixth World Championship title.

After surprising even themselves by winning the short program yesterday, an excess interruption fall in the free took RUS1 (Paradise) out of medal contention. And while FIN2 (defending champions, Rockettes) rebounded from a sixth place skate yesterday to win the free today, it wasn’t enough to land them a spot on the podium. (more…)

Skating eleventh in a field of 21 teams, RUS1 managed to hold on to win the short program at the World Synchronized Skating Championships in Sweden today, even after all top nine teams skated clean. Yes — RUS1, who has exactly zero World Championship medals (save for one “small” silver from 2007 where they placed second in the short before falling to eighth in the free), and finished seventh in 2011, currently leads a field that includes all the medalists from nearly every World Championship, ever. Only three former medal-winners aren’t competing in Gothenburg: Miami University (USA), Team Unique (FIN), and now-defunct black ice (CAN). (more…)